barbato



March 4, 1930. T. BARBATO SLAB CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney March 4, 1930. i BARBATO 1,749,524

SLAB CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventar Attorney March 4, 1930. T. BARBATO 1,749,524

SLAB CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor A ttornev PatentedMar. 4, 1930 FATE? @FFEQE SLAB CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 6, 1927.

The invention relates to a slab construction for use in fire proof buildings having frames of structural steel or re-inforced concrete; and in buildings of wall-boarding design; and for use, in fact, in all types of building construction where fire-proof floors are desirable; More particularly, the invention.

7' relates to slab-constructions of combined hollow tile and re-inforced concrete having a 10 cantilever action, and providing a flat ceiling, Without intermediate beams, over long spans; and also providing a thin flooring, to permit of increased headroom or decreased height of building for saving of structuralsteel or 1' re-inforced concrete. Hollow tile and concrete have heretofore been variously combined in flooring. In certain of such, combinations, however, the

tile has been used as amere filler, with no 2 function as a compression member and no action as a cantilever; and this despite the fact that hard burnt clay has a compressive strength one and one half times that of concrete. In other cases the strength of the tile has been recognized, and the tile so positioned in the concrete as to function in compression withthe concrete. In instances such as the last, however, each tile has been separately embedded in and bonded on all four sides by the concrete, and the concrete allowed to enter both ends of each tile, with the result that the concrete constitutes an excessive proportion of the slab, and the slab as a whole is of far greater weight than desirable economy in the size of the floorsupports would dictate. Furthermore, by reason of the excessive amount of concrete therein, such a slab in itself is much more expensive than would be the case were the area of tile enlarged to a proper and attainable degree;

and, due to its large area of concrete such a slab offers but a limited area of tile on which to plaster. Again, in structures in which unset concrete is allowed to enter or close both ends of the hollow tile, water accumulating within the tile, as the concrete sets, is shut off from the atmosphere, and proper drying of the structure is thus prevented.

An object of the present invention is a combination tile'and re-inforced concrete Serial No. 186,697.

slab in which the tile andconcrete act both in compression and as a cantilever, and are so proportioned and arranged that the slab may have great strength in long-span structural framing, little Weight, and a minimum depth, be laid with rapidity by unskilled labor and when laidmay quickly and thoroughly dry; and which, by reason of a relatively high proportion of tile, is largely of cheap and cheaply laid material offering an extensive area of fiat ceiling for plastering.

In a slab in which the re-inforced concrete is in two intersecting systems of elements or ribs, or otherwise, it is an object of the invention so to space these ribs that the apertures or areas of the net or open work thereby formed, are of a size to accommodate tileunits, each composed, not of a single tile as heretofore, but of a plurality of tiles, preferably four in a two-way system, set against each other so that by their bearing one on the other within the unit, and by their bearing on the concrete without the unit, they act as compression members; and so that by reason of the joints at the abutting faces of the tiles, the interior of the tiles may be drained and dried with the setting of the concrete.

In the preferred form of the invention the tile units each comprise four tiles so set to one another that one open end of each tile abuts the closed side wall of another tile; each side of the tile-unit thus presenting the side wall of one tile and the open end of another. In this construction, therefore, the concrete, which forms the adjacent ribs of the network, (and which is poured or tamped into the spaces between the tile units after the lat ter have been positioned on flat building forms, in the squares or areas defined by the previously positioned re-inforcing rods), may protrude into but one open end of each tile, instead of into both ends of every tile, as heretofore. Each tile-unit as a whole may nevertheless be interlocked on each side, by reason of such protrusions of concrete, with the adjacent re-inforced concrete ribs;

In a modified form of the invention the four tiles of a tile-unit are arranged so that the closed side wall of one tile abuts the closed side wall of another, and the other two tiles are similarly set to one another and placed end-on with respect to the first two. Here again, the concrete can enter only one open end of each tile. 3 V

In a further modification of the invention, the corners of the tiles are cut so that pockets are formed when the tiles are set together; these pockets having concrete tamped therein to bond the end face of the side wall of one tile to that of another.

In one form of the invention a concrete surfacing over both the tiles and the con crete rib-elements, and unitary with the latter may also not only be unitary with the concrete in the aforesaid pockets, but may be .tamped into any crevices between abutting tiles which arise from irregularities in the tile surfaces; thus assuring a full bearing of one tile on another over the entire opposing surfaces of the tiles. v

Other features of the invention will hereinafter appear in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: r

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of flooring embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of flooring embodying a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4; is a view in cross-section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of flooring embodying a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in cross-section somewhat similar to that of Fig. 4 except that a top surfacing of concrete is shown over the tiles and unitary with the concrete filling between the tile-groups.

Fig. 9 is a view in cross-section of a modified form of the invention in which the I beams of Fig. 2 are replaced by concrete beams.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a portion of flooring supported by piers or 001- umns 10. Set upon these columns and extending from one to another of such columns are I beams 11, set in concrete 12. The concrete haunches 12 are formed in the usual manner I 1 and 2, reinforcing steel bars 13-are laid in two systems at right angles one to the other, the bars ofeach system being spaced preferably 28 apart on centers. In the spaces or sections formed by bars 13 are assembled four pieces of 12 X 12 hollow tile, the depth of ends at each end of the tile. One open end of each of the four tiles in each unit of Fig. 1 bears against the closed side or wall of another of such tiles; so that'there ison each side of each fourtile unit, the open end of one tile and the closed side or ,wall of another tile. I

When these four-tile units, to the desired number, have been centered in the sections 7 formed by the reinforcing rods 13 concrete 17 is poured or tamped into the spaces between the opposing tile units, and over and around the reinforcing rods13, thus creating two systems,at right angles one tothe other, of concrete ribs 17'. In this process the concrete 17 forms a secure bond with the closed side walls of certain of the tiles in each unit, and with the end faces of the side walls and webs of certain others of the tiles in each unit. Furthermore, in the pouring and tamping of the concrete, the latter enters the open ends of the tiles, as indicated'in Fig. 4, and effects. a bond with the interior faces of the tile walls and webs within the cells of the tiles. The concrete thus entering the cells of the tiles finds its proper angle of repose, which in turn is determined in partby the frictional engagement of the concrete with the interior walls and webs of the tiles. With the proper mix and proper tamping theconcrete will assume somewhat the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the concrete by reason of its frictional engagement with the upper face of the cell is shown to have formed a shoulder 18, and by its frictional engagement with the lower wall of the cell, a shoulder 19 of greater extent. 7 These protrusions of concrete into the cells are not only firmly bonded to the] cell walls on top, bottom and sides, but form elements which interlock with the tiles.

As shown in Fig. 2, the reinforcing bars 13, between the beams or girders 11, are positioned in the lower portion'or chord of the concrete ribs 17, to act as tension members. At, andin the locality of, thebeams or girders 11, the reinforcing bars 13, are deflected up:

ward into the'upper portion or chord of the ribs 17, again to act as tension members, in accordance with well known mechanical principles. In Fig. 2, the reinforcing bars 13, instead of being continuous through the girders 11, at the lower portions of the ribs 17, are discontinued at and by reason of theI beams 11, and other short reinforcing bars 21 are positioned inthe concrete ribs 17 in the-upper chord thereof from one to the other side of the I beams 11; this being the mechanical equivalent of the aforementioned upward and downward deflection of the reinforcing rods at the beams or girders 11. Between girders 11, the upper portions or chords of the concrete ribs 17 are in compression; and likewise the upper portions or chords of the tilesin their abutment and bearing, one on the other ineach four-tile unit, and in their union and abutment with the concrete ribs 17, are in compression.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 4, and 5, the four tiles which form each unit are otherwise arranged. In this form of the invention the tiles of the several units are so arranged that instead of hav- 4 ing the open end of one tile abutting the side wall of an adjacent tile, the tiles are placed end to end with side wall to side wall so that, as respects each four-tile unit, there are open ends on two sides of the unit and closed faces on the other two sides of the unit. In such an arrangement the flow of the concrete into the quadruple tile unit is only from two of the adjacent concrete ribs 17 ;'and the mechani cal interlocking by reason of the concrete protrusions 20 is only with such two concrete ribs 17. As to the other two ribs 17 the nat ural bond of the concrete with the side walls of the tiles is relied upon for proper union of tile and concrete.

A top surfacing 22 of concrete over the tiles is often desirable. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 this top surfacing 22 is unitary with the cross systems of concrete ribs 17, and is advantageously formed or laid in the laying of the ribs 17 themselves.

In addition, however, to the added strength 7 of the slabs as a whole which this surfacing 21 provides, it has a further advantage and function. In the cutting and baking of the tiles, irregularities may be formed in the faces thereof, as indicatedin an exaggerated manner at 23 in Fig. 8, so that the abutment of the tiles one on the other in the several units may not be continuous throughout the opposing faces of the tiles. When however, a surfacing 22 is spread or tamped over the tiles, the concrete of such surfacing, as indicated at 24 in Fig. 8, will enter into any such interstices 23, thereby filling the same and causing the tiles to be braced one on the other continuously over the opposing faces of the tiles. Within the scope of the invention, concrete 24- may be tamped into any interstices between opposing faces of tiles without there being a surfacing 22 over the tops of the tiles.

As shown in Fig. 6, the tiles may have their corners cut on lines 25, so that, when the tiles are set together, openings 26 are provided which extend the depth of the tile. The side walls 27 of the tiles terminate at these cuts 25; and, when the openings 26 are filled with concrete, concretecores 28 are provided which bond the end walls 271. of adjacent tiles, one to the other; thus making the walls of one tile in effect mechanically continuous with the walls of the adjacent tiles. As indicated in Fig. 7 these concrete cores or fillings 28 may be unitary with the top surfacing 22 of concrete.

In Fig. 9 a form of the invention is shown in which the I beams of Fig. 2 are absent, and in which T shaped concrete beams 29 are substituted for the steel beams 11. These con crete beams 29 may be reinforced by metal rods 30 forming tension members at the base thereof. Metal stirrups 31 are shown in Fig. 9 as extended vertically downward from the upper part of the beams 29, under and around the reinforcing members 30, and upward again to the upper portion of the beams 29. These stirrups are ordinarily used in this type of construction to take care of shear in excess of what the concrete section will sustain.

I claim:

1. A floor structure or slab comprising a system of re-inforced concrete ribs forming an open-work the apertures of which are closed by units of hollow tile bonded to the ribs in the formation of the latter by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units; each such tile-unit being an assembly of like tiles set and abutting one with the other in the plane of the slab and acting with the concrete in cantilever formation, and certain of which are open-ended to the concrete, the concrete being interlocked with the tile units in the flowing or tamping of the concrete by protrusion of concrete into those open ends or cells of the tiles of each unit which abut the concrete ribs.

2. A floor structure or slab comprising a two-way system of re-inforced concrete ribs forming a net-work the apertures of which are closed by units of hollow tile bonded to the ribs in the formation of the latter by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units; each such tile-unit consisting of four tiles so set one to the other in the plane of the slab that one open end of each tile abuts the side wall of another tile; the tiles acting with the concrete in cantilever formation, and the concrete being interlocked with the tile units in the flowing or tamping of the concrete by protrusion of concrete into those open ends or cells of the tiles of each unit which abut the concrete ribs.

3. A floor structure or slab comprising a system of re-inforced concrete ribs forming an open-work the apertures of which are closed by units of hollow tile bonded to the ribs in the formation of the latter by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units; each such tile-unit consisting of a plurality of standard tiles set and abutting one with the other in the plane of the slab and acting with the concrete in cantilever formation. 4. A floor structure or slab comprising a system of re-inforced concrete ribs forming an open-work the apertures of which are closed by units of hollow tile bonded to the p 1 l0 ribs in the formation of the latter by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units; each such tile-unit consisting of a plurality of standard tiles set endwise and laterally one to the other in the plane of the slab and acting with-the concrete in cantilever formation. 5. A floor structure or slab comprising a system composed of metal tension rods set in concrete and forming an open rib-work the 2G apertures of whichare closed by'units of hol- *low tile bonded to the concrete in the formation of the ribs by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units, and around the tension rods; each such tile-unit consisting of a plurality of standard tiles set one to the other in the plane of the slab and acting with the concreteflin cantilever formation; the concrete being interlocked with the tile units in the flowing or tamping of the concrete by protrusion of concrete into those open ends or cells of the tiles of each unit which abut the re-inforced concrete ribs.

6. A floor structure or slab comprising two-Way system of re-inforced concrete'ribs forming an open-work the apertures of which are closed by units of hollow tile bonded to the ribs in the formation of the latter by the pouring or tamping, and setting, of the concrete between and against the tile units; each such tile-unit consisting of tiles so set one to the other in the plane of the slab that one open end of each tile abuts the side wall of another tile; the tiles acting with the concrete in cantilever formation. I

Signed atNew York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 26th day of May, 1927. THEODORE BARBATO. 

